Cotto trains ahead of Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - His fight with Manny Pacquiao is still 11 weeks away and a handful of kinks have yet to be ironed out, but that has not stopped Miguel Cotto from plunging into training mode.

The Puerto Rican WBO welterweight champ started sweating it out on Monday, running at the Freire de Cidra Stadium in his hometown of Caguas, and capped his first practice by working on the heavy bags, according to Examiner.com's Ricardo Lois.

Cotto is scheduled to face Pacquiao on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas in a fight that is not only several months away but also a couple of issues from being formalized. Most of the kinks center on the catch weight, with Cotto saying he will only stake his title only if the match is pegged at 147 pounds.

Promoter Bob Arum announced that the fight would be at a 145 lb catch weight.

Cotto breezed through the initial hurdles set for him by trainer Joe Santiago.

"I feel good to be starting," Cotto told Carlos Gonzalez of Primera Hora. "I am going to take things little by little, working three days a week. I needed to be in the gym again."

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is busy honoring numerous commitments in the country.

Team Pacquiao has already announced an eight-week camp for the Cotto bout. And part of that camp could be spent away from trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

Arum has advised Pacquiao, an early 2-1 favorite in betting, to spend the first half of his training outside the United States for tax considerations.

Meanwhile, Roger Mayweather, trainer and uncle of returning former world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been arrested and charged with two felonies by the Las Vegas Police Department.

Roger, who was freed Monday after posting a $13,000 bail, was accused of coercion and battery with strangulation by professional female boxer Melissa St. Vil.

Source: inquirer.net